Unlikely heroes lift Rangers to Stanley Cup Finals

New York Rangers center Brian Boyle (22) celebrates with teammates after center Dominic Moore (28) scored a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference finals, Thursday, May 29, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK — There was no dramatic double overtime wraparound goal this time around. No need for “Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!”

Twenty years after their dramatic run to the Stanley Cup, the Rangers may still have one more hill to climb — it remains to be seen whether they’ll play the Chicago Blackhawks or Los Angeles Kings when the Finals gets underway on June 4 — but it was an outstanding defensive effort as a group and a second period goal from fourth-line forward Dominic Moore that got them there this time.

Rangers fan or not, it’s hard to deny Moore’s hero turn as being yet another feel-good story coming out of Manhattan.

After sitting out the 2012-13 NHL season to mourn the passing of his wife, Katie, Moore made the decision to return to the game this year, signing a one-year contract with the organization that drafted him out of Harvard in the third round in 2000. Part of a fourth line that dictated the play in a large portion of New York’s 1-0 Game 6 win over the Montreal Canadiens, it was Moore’s wrist shot that beat Dustin Tokarski with 1:53 left to play in the second period that served as the difference.

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“For him to get that game-winner, it couldn’t happen to a better guy,” Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello said. “(The fourth line) have been huge for us this whole year, and they’re stepping up in key times. That was a big goal.”

Although Moore will be the focal point for now, the Rangers have not only had several different key rallying points throughout the year, but also the last 365 days. It was one year ago to the day of their claim of this season’s Prince of Wales Trophy that the organization fired John Tortorella. Alain Vigneault was brought in from Vancouver and after he — like the fiery “Torts” — had failed to win the Stanley Cup despite a talented group, many wondered if he’d be able to handle the pressure of the Big Apple.

Early on, the doubters seemed to be right. After a nightmarish start in which they won just three of their first 10 games, Vigneault was finally able to joke about what he would have said had you told him back then his team would have been playing for the game’s biggest prize.

“I probably would have said, ‘What are you smoking?’” he cracked.

“We worked our way (out) and improved how we played and we really came along in the second half to find a way to get in,” Vigneault said. “Ever since we’d gotten in, all the series have been so competitive and so hard-fought, and we’ve found a way to win.”

But it didn’t always seem like that would be the case. The Rangers trailed the Pittsburgh Penguins three games to one in the Metropolitan Division Finals, and were one loss away from their season being over. However, just as they rallied around Moore all year long, they received an emotional spark after Martin St. Louis made an unexpected return following the death of his mother to come all the way back and win in seven games.

Although their on-ice play both needed and received a much needed boost after that, there’s no denying that impact that both men have made on the team as they now head to play for the Stanley Cup.

“Both (Moore) and Marty have gone through some challenging times, and I think they’ve found a way to find a place where they can be happy, and that’s at the rink with their teammates and on the ice,” Vigneault said. “They’ve both been very inspirational leaders throughout this whole thing, and I’m very happy to have them both.”